'Hounds lose momentum against NEO

By Scott Nuzum

Herald-Tribune

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- Fort Scott Community College's volleyball team was unable to maintain the momentum from a first-game win and dropped a non-conference match to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M at Arnold Arena Friday night 28-30, 30-21, 30-21, 30-10.

The Greyhounds finished regular-season play with a record of 4-23. They will go to Kansas City, Kan., Wednesday night for a first-round Division II, District M playoff match with Kansas City Kansas Community College. This was the last home match for three sophomores: Molly Outersky, who played volleyball both seasons, and Amber Obert and Samantha Troutman, who came out for volleyball this season.

The 'Hounds came back in game one of the match, rallying from a 7-1 deficit. They were down 12-8 before scoring five in a row to go up by two.

NEO led 28-26 but made a couple of errors to allow the match to become ties again. Outersky's kill put Fort Scott ahead and one of NEO's players went into the net to end the game.

Fort Scott was able to keep the momentum going into the second game. The Greyhounds went out to a 16-7 lead as they played maybe some of their best volleyball of the season.

The Lady Norse began to rally but the 'Hounds were still up 19-15. But then NEO scored 11 consecutive points. Outersky had a couple of kills to interrupt the run but the Norse scored the last four points.

The match now tied at 1-1, NEO pulled away from a 5-5 tie in the third game to go up 14-7. Fort Scott fought back, getting within 17-13 but never got closer than that.

FSCC scored the first two points of the fourth game but NEO then rolled off 10 in a row and 17 of the next 19. The Greyhounds never recovered from that run and the Norse went on to close out the match easily.

Outersky led the Greyhounds with 14 kills. Jessica McKinley had eight and Emily Martin finished with seven. Troutman had six kills.

Whitney Duncan dished 20 assists for the 'Hounds while Obert dealt 13. Martin had four blocks while Abby Shaffer served two aces.

Notes: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M is scheduled to face Cottey College Monday at 7 in the Hinkhouse Center. ... FSCC's alumni match was held immediately after this match. It was originally scheduled for Saturday as part of Homecoming festivities but the arena was not available due to the Alumni Rodeo in the west side of the building. ... FSCC has lost 12 of its last 13 matches.